In support to the enhancement of the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP), local government units and national agencies have started to incorporate the use of the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) in identifying and implementing projects.

The PCIP is a three-year rolling plan that contains investment opportunities and strategic interventions for the development of priority commodities. It is PRDP’s main basis for selecting eligible subprojects for funding.

All regions in the North Luzon cluster have now secured the Regional Development Council (RDC) resolutions for the utilization of the PCIP as reference in the planning of national government agencies.

With this, agencies such as the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and regular programs under the Department of Agriculture (DA) have allotted funds to implement projects identified through the investment plan.

As reported by PSO North Luzon Project Director Roy Abaya during the World Bank Implementation Support Mission in Bataan, 415 non-PRDP funded subprojects have been identified through the PCIP amounting to P3.33 Billion. 172 of these are now completed and now being benefited by many.

From proposal to livelihood

One of these completed projects is a goat enterprise in Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija funded by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

“After being identified in the PCIP, ATI committed P1 million for the upgrading of goats in Cuyapo. The Municipality of Cuyapo also committed P100,000 for the housing; the Central Luzon State University (CLSU) to provide pure bred goats, and the Provincial Veterinary under the Nueva Ecija Provincial Government to provide upgraded goats,” said Christina Ellana from the Nueva Ecija Provincial Agriculture Office.

Municipal Agriculturist Orlando Ramos said that from the identified projects in the PCIP, there were other agencies that helped and provided assistance to develop the goat industry in the municipality.

“Through this, the goat industry here will be upgraded, quality will increase and of course, the growers’ income will also increase,” said Ramos.

Tools for development

In Zambales, project planners are also fully utilizing the PCIP. With four commodities integrated in the plan – mango, cassava, sweet potato and beef cattle – significant information on commodity’s trajectory, trend and key players are seen that will help planners identify what project is most suitable and helpful for farmers.

“We were directly involved in crafting the PCIP,” recalled Librada Guevarra, Provincial Planning Development Coordinator of Zambales.

“I really appreciate the preparation of the PCIP because through this, projects are really identified with proper basis. We can also see the value chain, if a project is feasible and what would be the intervention for the farmers.”

She added that aside from the PCIP, the Expanded Vulnerability and Suitability Assessment (e-VSA) also aided them in reviewing and approving various proposals.

“Before, if a certain executive proposes for a baseless project, we cannot provide any proof why it cannot be implemented. Whereas with the tool introduced by PRDP called e-VSA, we can now defend the project prioritization, technically and scientifically.”

The e-VSA is is a Geographic Information System (GIS)-based tool that takes into account the combined analysis of vulnerability and suitability as well as socio-economic conditions of a particular area.

To date, all 22 provinces of the cluster have their approved PCIPs –of which 15 are currently updated. (Kayla Arceo, North Luzon InfoACE)